Ke Ola Calling
“I'm looking for a Program Head for Youth Rush this summer…just thought I’d see if you would be interested.”
I stared strangely at the message from Mario Bravo, the Literature Ministry Director for the Hawaii Conference. I was unsure how to respond. The literature ministry has a special place in my heart, but I was thousands of miles away in the Philippines, with no immediate plans to return to Hawaii. It would have been easy to say no, but instead, I decided to sit on it. My wife and I got ready for church on that beautiful Sabbath morning. As we entered the building, bold red letters mounted above the pulpit caught my eye: SALE—Student Association of Literature Evangelists. It turned out that the entire Sabbath service was dedicated to the literature ministry. Coincidence? I didn’t think so. In that moment, I knew Mario’s message was more than just an offer; it was a call from God.
I straightened in my seat as the preacher shared video clips of how different countries carry forward the literature ministry work. One of the featured programs was Youth Rush, the very same one I had been part of from 2012 to 2015. Watching the young evangelists in action, memories flooded back—
sharing books, praying with strangers, listening to their stories, and signing them up for Bible studies. It was a ministry I thought I had left behind as I approached the final year of my Master of Divinity at Andrews University. However, I was reminded of an excerpt from Ellen White’s writings:
“Let none think that it belittles a minister of the gospel to engage in canvassing as a means of carrying truth to the people.” Manual for Canvassers, 29.3
Four months later, I found myself on a plane back to Hawaii to begin the leadership training. Once again, I had to face the sacrifice of being apart from my wife, as her U.S. immigrant visa was still pending. Despite the distance, I was grateful for her selfless support.
In the same way that God called me back to the literature ministry, He also breathed new life into the program. After a six-year hiatus, God worked through Mario Bravo to revive it in 2023. Now officially known as “Ke Ola,” meaning “the life,” the program has grown significantly from its humble beginnings.
The Ke Ola Youth Rush brought together 17 students and 4 team leaders this summer. We based ourselves out of Manoa SDA Church and Aiea SDA Church on Oahu, covering about 80% of the island over the course of nine weeks. The students distributed roughly 10,500 books and secured around 50 Bible study contacts. Even more inspiring than the numbers were the students' testimonies
of divine encounters and answered prayers. Almost every person on the other side of the door had a story to tell. From health problems and emotional struggles to recent family loss, God brought hope through intentional interactions with the student evangelists.
Looking ahead, Mario Bravo envisions sending out two teams next year—one serving on Oahu and another covering Maui, Kauai, and possibly the Big Island. This expansion aims to provide more students with opportunities to partner with angels in sharing timeless truths. With God leading, these young people can advance literature evangelism across the Hawaiian Islands, one door at a time.
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By Marc Pasion, Ke Ola Youth Rush Team Leader